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Post by abellion on Jul 23, 2024 9:43:27 GMT
The Richmond area bus routes need another review in my opinion in due course. Route 490 being converted to a double deck operation should really happen on its next contract in 2026. The problem with the Richmond area routes is the limited stand space. You can't easily shorten one route to improve reliability, without extending another. Ideally the 110 or even the 65 could be worth splitting, but most routes currently terminating in Richmond are at an optimum length now (337, 493, R70 etc). If no more stand space can be found, I think the best option would be to extend the H37. It currently works well as a short shuttle route, but equally it could still likely be run reliably if lengthened. Maybe something like a 371/H37 merger could work, but there's likely some tight roads around Ham that wouldn't fit DXE-length SDs. I also think the Hammersmith Bridge area routes need to be considered at the same time. Would the 110 for instance be more reliable if it instead ran via the 419 as originally proposed, but terminating at Castelnau for now? In this case you could then reroute the 265 at Barnes up to Castelnau to replace the rest of the 419, and also extend the 72 to Roehampton via Putney Bridge (as per the N72). The 33 is also an interesting route to discuss, since it can currently take DDs (and likely needs some extra capacity), but there's a possibility Hammersmith Bridge could eventually reopen, and TFL would have to de-convert it back to SDs again. But I think combining the 33 and H37 together could be a solution. Longer SDs would likely fit around the Castelnau-Richmond end of the 33, which would be a good compromise. So my suggestion would be for a revised 33 to operate between Castelnau and Hounslow, replacing the H37 (but instead going via Twickenham Bridge to continue to serve Richmond Station). Then the Fulwell end could be replaced by a route from Fulwell to Hammersmith, via the current 33 to Richmond then the current 110? I’m not sure if “optimum length” is the right term for the 493  |
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Post by ADH45258 on Jul 23, 2024 10:00:10 GMT
I’m not sure if “optimum length” is the right term for the 493 What I meant was, too long to extend further reliably. I agree the 493 is probably too long already, I think someone previously suggested that another route like the 163 could take over the Wimbledon-Tooting section? |
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Post by bluepuffy on Jul 23, 2024 10:16:49 GMT
I’m not sure if “optimum length” is the right term for the 493 What I meant was, too long to extend further reliably. I agree the 493 is probably too long already, I think someone previously suggested that another route like the 163 could take over the Wimbledon-Tooting section? 163 or 164 would work well, though having three routes that go into Sutton Town Centre may become a little over excessive if the 164 was chosen. Would the 493s routing rule out any DDs on the 163? |
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Post by LD71YLO (BE37054) on Jul 23, 2024 10:27:37 GMT
What I meant was, too long to extend further reliably. I agree the 493 is probably too long already, I think someone previously suggested that another route like the 163 could take over the Wimbledon-Tooting section? 163 or 164 would work well, though having three routes that go into Sutton Town Centre may become a little over excessive if the 164 was chosen. Would the 493s routing rule out any DDs on the 163? I know 280 is one, what would the third be? |
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Post by abellion on Jul 23, 2024 10:33:45 GMT
What I meant was, too long to extend further reliably. I agree the 493 is probably too long already, I think someone previously suggested that another route like the 163 could take over the Wimbledon-Tooting section? 163 or 164 would work well, though having three routes that go into Sutton Town Centre may become a little over excessive if the 164 was chosen. Would the 493s routing rule out any DDs on the 163? Deckers should be fine fine on the 493 to Tooting, there are a lot of big trees hanging around on its lone stretch of Blackshaw Road but out of service buses and 155/264/280 diversions have used it regardless. I would rather the 493 stayed in Tooting because students and others use it for long distance trips all over the route as far as Roehampton, I think the Richmond end is the one that should be severed. |
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Post by LD71YLO (BE37054) on Jul 23, 2024 10:42:50 GMT
163 or 164 would work well, though having three routes that go into Sutton Town Centre may become a little over excessive if the 164 was chosen. Would the 493s routing rule out any DDs on the 163? Deckers should be fine fine on the 493 to Tooting, there are a lot of big trees hanging around on its lone stretch of Blackshaw Road but out of service buses and 155/264/280 diversions have used it regardless. I would rather the 493 stayed in Tooting because students and others use it for long distance trips all over the route as far as Roehampton, I think the Richmond end is the one that should be severed. Could a 265/493 swap north of Roehampton work? The proposed Superloop 2 route would retain Wimbledon links. |
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Post by bluepuffy on Jul 23, 2024 10:53:02 GMT
163 or 164 would work well, though having three routes that go into Sutton Town Centre may become a little over excessive if the 164 was chosen. Would the 493s routing rule out any DDs on the 163? I know 280 is one, what would the third be? I had a bit of mistake; thought the S1 went further into Tooting before terminating lol, but it's so close to the station its practically a non-issue. So it would actually just be the 164/280, but I think the 280 is perfectly fine by itself. |
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Post by bluepuffy on Jul 23, 2024 10:58:14 GMT
Deckers should be fine fine on the 493 to Tooting, there are a lot of big trees hanging around on its lone stretch of Blackshaw Road but out of service buses and 155/264/280 diversions have used it regardless. I would rather the 493 stayed in Tooting because students and others use it for long distance trips all over the route as far as Roehampton, I think the Richmond end is the one that should be severed. Could a 265/493 swap north of Roehampton work? The proposed Superloop 2 route would retain Wimbledon links. One thing that I haven't seen alot of discussion about is how the Proposed Wimblemond route is actually a quicker way to connect the two southern terminals of the District Line. First Bakerloop, now Districtloop? |
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Post by abellion on Jul 23, 2024 11:17:10 GMT
Deckers should be fine fine on the 493 to Tooting, there are a lot of big trees hanging around on its lone stretch of Blackshaw Road but out of service buses and 155/264/280 diversions have used it regardless. I would rather the 493 stayed in Tooting because students and others use it for long distance trips all over the route as far as Roehampton, I think the Richmond end is the one that should be severed. Could a 265/493 swap north of Roehampton work? The proposed Superloop 2 route would retain Wimbledon links. I would like if the 493 cut to Barnes Common and the “Districtloop” took over the Richmond end instead. Interchange at Wimbledon, Putney Heath and Roehampton as well as the 33/337 around the corner at Barnes Common |
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Post by borneobus on Jul 23, 2024 12:43:06 GMT
163 or 164 would work well, though having three routes that go into Sutton Town Centre may become a little over excessive if the 164 was chosen. Would the 493s routing rule out any DDs on the 163? Deckers should be fine fine on the 493 to Tooting, there are a lot of big trees hanging around on its lone stretch of Blackshaw Road but out of service buses and 155/264/280 diversions have used it regardless. I would rather the 493 stayed in Tooting because students and others use it for long distance trips all over the route as far as Roehampton, I think the Richmond end is the one that should be severed. Good point and the 493 is mirrored by the 33/337 all the way along Upper Richmond Road to Roehampton Lane in Barnes. |
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Post by ilovelondonbuses on Jul 23, 2024 22:10:22 GMT
Could a 265/493 swap north of Roehampton work? The proposed Superloop 2 route would retain Wimbledon links. I would like if the 493 cut to Barnes Common and the “Districtloop” took over the Richmond end instead. Interchange at Wimbledon, Putney Heath and Roehampton as well as the 33/337 around the corner at Barnes Common Agreed and I do think a cut is on the cards for route 493 when the proposed Superloop 2 route SL17 (or as you coin it the Districtloop) is launched. There is no way Richmond Bus Station will be able to accommodate more buses without a route moving out and route 493 makes the most sense to be moved out. It is a very long route prone to delays due heavy traffic along its route. Goes without saying that a 12 mile route in South West London seems quite unworkable. Barnes Common would be a good terminus for route 493 providing there's an interchange stop with Superloop route SL17 there. Route 337 would still retain the stop by stop links between Barnes Common and Richmond Bus Station while Superloop 2 route SL17 will provide faster journeys and add extra capacity with the route hopefully using double deckers along the current route 493's route corridor. |
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Post by mrhk on Jul 24, 2024 19:48:27 GMT
Think its probably said before but we need to say it again.
195 needs to decked desperately. Possibly route 95 too.
195 suffers badly from overcrowding and as a result does not operate as best as it could. Decking the U7 over the 195 back in COVID times was a really bad decision and barely aided the 195 so maybe a partial decking with the ex-U5 MMCs would help. In regards to the 95, until its next tender it would be okay with a partial or full decking with VWs displaced from 237s hyrbid conversion
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Post by COBO on Jul 24, 2024 20:03:24 GMT
Think its probably said before but we need to say it again. 195 needs to decked desperately. Possibly route 95 too. 195 suffers badly from overcrowding and as a result does not operate as best as it could. Decking the U7 over the 195 back in COVID times was a really bad decision and barely aided the 195 so maybe a partial decking with the ex-U5 MMCs would help. In regards to the 95, until its next tender it would be okay with a partial or full decking with VWs displaced from 237s hyrbid conversion The ex U5 Enviro 400 MMCs have gone to the 344 I believe. |
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Post by mrhk on Jul 24, 2024 21:12:14 GMT
Think its probably said before but we need to say it again. 195 needs to decked desperately. Possibly route 95 too. 195 suffers badly from overcrowding and as a result does not operate as best as it could. Decking the U7 over the 195 back in COVID times was a really bad decision and barely aided the 195 so maybe a partial decking with the ex-U5 MMCs would help. In regards to the 95, until its next tender it would be okay with a partial or full decking with VWs displaced from 237s hyrbid conversion The ex U5 Enviro 400 MMCs have gone to the 344 I believe. Thats true. Maybe a little bit of a stretch but LTs? Would be rather crazy to imagine but I dont think there are any length restrictions except maybe near the Charville Lane end |
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Post by COBO on Jul 25, 2024 10:32:02 GMT
The ex U5 Enviro 400 MMCs have gone to the 344 I believe. Thats true. Maybe a little bit of a stretch but LTs? Would be rather crazy to imagine but I dont think there are any length restrictions except maybe near the Charville Lane end LTs from where 😂 |
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